Sleeping Beauty
Chapter Eight
Driving down the road to the factory, with Vivian in the passenger seat, Seth gripped the steering wheel. He would glance over at her and she would stare at her shoes or outside the window. She was like this in the office as well. Why couldn't she look at him? Was she afraid of him? Those questions plagued Seth's thoughts as he continued driving.
Taking a deep breath, Seth pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned off the ignition. Confused, Vivian turned to Seth but still couldn't look him in the eyes.
Reaching over and taking a hold of her hands, Seth squeezed them gently. Sighing, Vivian finally looked up into Seth's eyes.
"I am glad you can look at me again," Seth said.
"I'm sorry, but your partner…." Vivian trailed off.
"Silent partner," Seth corrected.
"Not anymore," Vivian said before taking a deep breath. "Mr. C used Moonlight Serenade on everyone in the entire office building."
Seth knew he used it, but he didn't think he would use it on everyone. Sighing he continued listening to Vivian.
"He used the sprinkler system. At first, everyone was fine. But as hours passed, fights broke out and people got sick while others went crazy. Vivian said, blinking away her tears. "The EMT and police came and within an hour, they cleared it up. Those who remained kept quiet and brandished smiles in a trance like state."
Seth shook his head, slamming his hand on the steering wheel. He was angry, but how could he be? When Mr. C came into his life, he knew it would never be the same. Vivian didn't have to go down with him. She could leave and be free of this nonsense.
"I am sorry for everything that happened, but I am too involved in this to back out now, but you can," Seth said.
"No, while I am scared, I want to remain by your side," Vivian said.
"Very well, then. I will do what I can to protect you."
Vivian nodded, giving Seth's hand a gentle squeeze.
Turning the key in the ignition, Seth continued down the road, promising to keep his word.
Standing on top of the security box at the factory Mr. C balled up his fists. He could no longer feel his crow's energy. But then a thought crossed his mind, the fight must of took a toll on them, so why not give them a second dose.
Walking out of the shadows stood two large black minotaurs with glowing red eyes. Looking down at his creations, he smiled.
"Go, finish them."
Roaring, the Minotaurs ran off as Mr. C smiled. Jumping off the security box; he looked back at the guard, who smiled back at him with glowing red eyes.
Nodding, he looked up at the clear blue sky.
Selene, while I may not be able to reach you, I will do my best to make sure no one else can."
Back at the apartment, Aphrodite sat by the couch monitoring Percy while Joseph went back to watching the security cameras.
Tracy went back to monitoring the media on her tablet while Yolanda reinforced the doors and windows. She looked to the couch at Percy still resting with Aphrodite laying a damp cloth across his forehead.
"What he did took a lot out of him. I don't think he can do that again," Aphrodite said.
Yolanda nodded, as she was heading toward the bathroom, Tracy opened her mouth.
"I got a bizarre video clip here."
Yolanda and Aphrodite joined Tracy who showed the clip of two human bull like creatures charging through downtown LA.
Joseph switch to the downtown monitors.
"Got it," Joseph said, typing on his keyboard.
The four of them got a better look at the bulls ramming cars and tossing vendor stalls, while they continued charging through downtown.
"Minotaur's, there heading somewhere, but where?" Yolanda asked.
Joseph continued following the video feed through the city. They watched them running down streets, ramming more cars and even causing a traffic pileup. The cops tried to intervene, creating a blockade only for them to charge through and toss some officers up in the air. But they kept going. Moving ahead of The Minotaur's on the video feed, his eyes narrowed when he spotted them just a few blocks away from their location.
"There heading here," Joseph said.
"So, looks like we are getting a round two," Tracy said.
"We have a plan, right?" Aphrodite asked.
Yolanda scratched her head, she looked at the video feed then over at the badges on the table.
"You three head to the factory. I will keep our guest company." Yolanda said.
While the others wanted to protest, Yolanda's stern gaze told them to keep quiet. Joseph passed out the badges to Tracy and Aphrodite. Then clip his badge on his shirt.
"Be careful boss," Tracy said.
"I know," Yolanda said.
Joseph patted Yolanda on the back before heading out the door with Tracy and Aphrodite.
Taking a deep breath Yolanda, broke the top of her staff revealing a crystalized spear head.
"Time to get serious,"
Tighten her hold on her spear, Yolanda glanced at the video feed before looking back at Percy.
"Rest. I will take care of this," Yolanda said before leaving the apartment.
Walking out of the apartment complex into the street, Yolanda's eyes narrowed as two black minotaurs stopped a few feet away from her. They stood there with their glowing red eyes snarling. Dragging their hooves across the asphalt, Yolanda slipped into her fighting stance with her spear pointed at them.
"Okay…. Let's do this."
